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Julia C.
Who was Edmund D. Codman?
Edmund D. Codman was an influential lawyer and businessman who owned the entire block of 80-90 North Street for thirty years between 1908-1938. During that time, he leased the building out to many businesses as he himself focused his energy on other industries in the greater community. He lived from 1865 to 1947, and during his 82 years of life, he accomplished many things in a lot of different sectors. The page below characterizes the kind of man Edmund D. Codman was as well as some of the influential roles he held in the city. Understanding who Edmund D. Codman once was is quite beneficial to understanding the city of Boston; and similarly, the connection between a man of such importance and this parcel of land shows its interconnectedness to the city.
Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Oct 08, 1904. ProQuest.
Family Records
The two census documents below show the Codman family as it stood in 1910 and 1920. The documents include a lot of information about Edmund D. Codman - including his age, occupation, home address and information, education level, and marital status. Edmund married his wife, Annie M. Codman, in 1898 in what was described in a newspaper article as a beautiful ceremony. They shared daughter Dorothea A. Codman as their only child.
Edmund D. Codman is labeled as the patriarch of the family in both documents; however, it is crucial to understand his upbringing as it critically informed his life's trajectory into a business tycoon. His father, Robert Codman, was an influential figure himself and held many of the same positions that Edmund would later step into. Thus, Edmund was not a self-made businessman but rather inherited many of the roles his father set up for him.
Nonetheless, the Codman family, especially Edmund, were quite influential and helped to define Boston in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
1910 Census Record, HeritageQuest.
1920 Census Record, HeritageQuest.
President of the Fitchburg Railroad
Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Sep 30, 1897. ProQuest.
Like Father, Like Son
As seen in the graphic to the left, Robert Codman and Edmund D. Codman, were both heavily involved in the Fitchburg Railroad and acted as the President of the company at some point in time. In 1897, Edmund D. Codman was appointed the role of President by the Board of Directors, of which Robert Codman was Chairman. In his time as President, Edmund D. Codman worked closely with transportation committees and leaders throughout the city to help boost the movement of people and materials between Boston and the greater surrounding areas. Edmund D. Codman only held the position until 1900, when the power transferred into the hands of his colleague and fellow landowner, Moses Williams (for more information on Williams, click here). Regardless of their involvement as members, Presidents, or Ex-Presidents, both Codmans were very involved in the railroad and civic movement efforts throughout the city.
A Valued Voice
The article to the right is an opinion piece written by Edmund D. Codman himself. He writes in response to the question “How Can Boston Be Made One of the Great Ports of the World?” His response highlights how heavily involved he was in the city's transportation and trade infrastructure. Further, it shows that the people of Boston valued his opinion enough to seek his insight on the topic and that shows his influential role in Boston at the time.
Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Feb 12, 1899. ProQuest.
Board of Trustees - Brigham hospital
Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Jun 27, 1902. ProQuest.
Public Health Advocate
Upon the death of Peter Bent Brigham in 1902, Edmund D. Codman was appointed a trustee of his will in charge of allocating the near $5,000,000 in personal property Brigham left behind. For the next several years Codman was involved in upholding Brigham’s essential beliefs for the Brigham Hospital. One of these goals was to ensure that the hospital remained independent from Harvard, a project Codman worked on for most of his time on the board. Codman’s work with Brigham and the public health realm shows his widespread influence in many city sectors.
Real estate matters
An Engaged Citizen
Edmund D. Codman was closely involved with many real estate matters throughout Boston. In addition to owning land on North Street, he was a trustee for the Summer Street Trust which owned and leased land on Summer Street with his partner Moses Williams (for more information on Williams, click here). Though he may not have lived in the city - his residence was in Westwood - he was deeply involved in infrastructure projects for the city. As the article to the right mentions, he gladly shared his opinions on city projects especially as his high taxes often footed the bill for such projects. He was willing to work with the local government and lobby for changes he cared deeply about, and that is one of the reasons he held such an influential role in Boston society.
Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Sep 23, 1910. ProQuest.
Bibliography
Bromley, George Washington. Atlas of the City of Boston. Philadelphia: G.W. Bromley & Co., 1908, 1938. Boston Public Library, via Atlascope.
"Deaths and Funerals: Carl N. Quimby Founder of Optical Firm Dies in Arlington at 80." Daily Boston Globe (1928-1960), Feb 21, 1947. https://holycross.idm.oclc.org/login?auth=cas&url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/deaths-funerals/docview/839473549/se-2.
"Photo Standalone 1 -- no Title." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Oct 08, 1904. https://holycross.idm.oclc.org/login?auth=cas&url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/photo-standalone-1-no-title/docview/500294807/se-2.
Year: 1910; Census Place: Boston Ward 11, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Roll: T624_618; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 1421; FHL microfilm: 1374631
Year: 1920; Census Place: Boston Ward 8, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Roll: T625_742; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 229
"FITCHBURG RAILROAD MEETING.: EVERYTHING WAS SERENE, WITH NO EMBARRASSING QUESTIONS ASKED AND NO SPEECHMANKING." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Sep 30, 1897. https://holycross.idm.oclc.org/login?auth=cas&url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/fitchburg-railroad-meeting/docview/498669216/se-2.
"How can Boston be made One of the Great Ports of the World?: MR EDMUND D. CODMAN. HON WOODWARD EMERY. MR ROBERT A. BUIT. HON JOHN W. CANDLER. MR ROBERT M. BURNETT." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Feb 12, 30. 1899. https://holycross.idm.oclc.org/login?auth=cas&url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/how-can-boston-be-made-one-great-ports-world/docview/499030987/se-2.
"BRIGHAM WILL.: TO BE SUBJECTED TO A JUDICIAL INQUIRY. NEPHEW OF TESTATOR ASSERTS MAIN PROVISION IS VOID. SAYS IT CONFLICTS WITH LAW ON PERPETUITIES. WANTS THE COURT TO DETERMINE HIS SHARE IN THE ESTATE. IT IS VALUED AT $4,338,137- HOSPITAL INVOLVED. ESTATE OF $4,338,137. PLANTIFF NEXT OF KIN. KISSED HER TWICE. MAN FINDS WOMAN HE LOOKED FOR ALL NIGHT IN MUNICIPAL COURT ON CHARGE OF DRUNKENNESS. NEARLY HALF A MILLION. ESTATE OF JULIA B. FRENCH APPRAISED AT $459,832.36--PERSONALITY VALUED AT $368,805.36. AS A TEST CASE. PROCEEDING IN SUPERIOR COURT FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE ELEVATED RAILROAD BY PROPERTY OWNERS." 1902. Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Jun 27, 11. https://holycross.idm.oclc.org/login?auth=cas&url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/brigham-will/docview/499687066/se-2.
"WILL BE INDEPENDENT.: EDMUND D. CODMAN DENIES REPORT THAT PROPOSED BRIGHAM HOSPITAL WILL BE CONTROLLED BY HARVARD." 1903.Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Aug 16, 11. https://holycross.idm.oclc.org/login?auth=cas&url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/will-be-independent/docview/499942774/se-2.
"CODMAN HITS TUNNEL PLANS: ACCUSES ELEVATED AS CONGESTION CAUSE. THINKS SUBWAY FROM PARK ST TO SOUTH STATION BEST. URGES WEST END LOOP AS REMEDY FOR SITUATION." Boston Daily Globe (1872-1922), Sep 23, 3. 1910. https://holycross.idm.oclc.org/login?auth=cas&url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/codman-hits-tunnel-plans/docview/501553961/se-2.
RESTARICK, CHAS. 1925. "REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS: MORE BUSINESS PROPERTY IS BOUGHT BY F. A. CONNORS." Boston Daily Globe (1923-1927), Feb 01, 1. 1925 https://holycross.idm.oclc.org/login?auth=cas&url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/real-estate-transactions/docview/861306523/se-2.
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